Electoral Commission works with churches

OEC is starting its operations early through its network with its current stakeholders and Churches to resolve these problems in future Elections. (Photo: oec.gov.ws)

One of the initiatives employed by the Office of the Electoral Commissioner (O.E.C.) is to ensure eligible citizens to vote in the next General Elections in 2021 are registered.

A noticeable trend in previous elections is that a significant amount of people tend to wait until the final months before the closure of rolls to process their registrations.

According to the Assistant Electoral Commissioner, Francis Ainuu “OEC’s experience is that the last minute rush to register poses a threat to the integrity of the electoral process. For instance, many of our people have turned 21 years but still rely on candidates and their committees to take them to register.

This opportunity is taken advantage of by not only the voters but also candidates through treating and bribery.”

For these reasons, OEC is starting its operations early through its network with its current stakeholders and Churches to resolve these problems in future Elections.

In addition, OEC is allowing the registration of citizens that will turn 21 years by the next General Elections in 2021.

The project covered Secondary Schools and Colleges in Savaii with the Colleges in Upolu scheduled for the 24th of July 2017.

OEC is looking towards strengthening its partnership with various religious denominations in Samoa in providing registration services during annual conferences and for the Methodist Church Annual Conference at Faleula.